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Dave Sittler: Beating Texas convincingly is satisfying to OU's Brent Venables
DALLAS - Brent Venables did his best to deny it, but his ear-to-ear grin gave him way.
Saturday's latest edition of the Red River Shootout was the most personal one for Venables in the 13 years he's participated in the storied Oklahoma-Texas football rivalry.
And because he took it personal, OU's defensive coordinator proved to a lot of skeptics that this Sooners' team deserves to be taken seriously as a BCS national championship contender.
No one has questioned the title credentials of OU's high-octane offense. But defenses still win championships, and many questioned after the Sooners' first four games if Venables' bunch has the right stuff to compete for the 2011 BCS title.
Here's how Venables answered the doubters - No. 3 Oklahoma 55, No. 11 Texas 17.
Other than the final score, the Sooner Nation should have left the Cotton Bowl ecstatic that Venables' head-to-head rematch with Longhorns' co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin turned out to be a total mismatch.
It was Venables' defense that played an unwanted role in helping Harsin land the coveted job at Texas after last season. He made a name for himself as Boise State's O-coordinator in 2006, when the Broncos shocked heavily favored OU in the Fiesta Bowl.
The 43-42 overtime win earned Boise State a permanent spot on college football's national landscape. It was an instant classic because every trick play Harsin called late worked to perfection.
Venables and head coach Bob Stoops were both ridiculed by Sooner fans and the media for letting OU get burned with ancient plays like the Statue of Liberty and hook and lateral.
Harsin's daring play calling made him one of the hottest assistants in the country. UT coach Mack Brown finally lured him away from the Broncos when Brown shook up his staff after last season's disastrous 5-7 finish.
The Venables-Harsin sequel was one of the most intriguing stories in yesterday's showdown of the two undefeated teams, which carried both Big 12 and national championship implications.
After Harsin's offense embarrassed the Sooners' defense in that bowl game, Venables returned the favor in spades Saturday with a magnificent game plan that make Texas' offense look inept.
The OU defense set six school records, including scoring three touchdowns via two interceptions and a fumble recovery. UT (4-1, 1-1) got one TD on a kickoff return and in the final three minutes of a game that was decided by halftime.
"It's never, ever about that," said Venables, trying to downplay his grudge match with Harsin. "Players play the game, and our players played really well."
If it wasn't personal, why did Venables dodge the media all week? Harsin, meanwhile, talked to any media member who would listen about his role in Boise State's historic win over the Sooners.
"No, really, I was just too busy, man," Venables said to claims he had a bunker mentality. "With meetings and practice, it was a crazy week."
But Venables did finally and unintentionally acknowledge his showdown with Harsin was indeed on his mind when he added: "I didn't want that (story) to become a focal point.
"Listen, I know what really happened in that (Fiesta Bowl) in Arizona. So we'll talk about it one day."
Fair enough, coach. Because the major discussion this Sunday should be if that was just a one-hit wonder by OU's defense, or the start of something big?
After all, even though Texas was 4-0, Harsin still hadn't decided who to start at quarterback. After returning starter Garrett Gilbert struggled and was lost for the season with a shoulder injury, Harsin opted for the dicey situation of alternating freshman David Ash and sophomore Case McCoy at the game's most important position.
The skeptics would say UT's unstable QB situation was a guarantee that OU's defense would manhandle UT's offense. But given an opportunity is one thing, taking advantage of it is a whole different ballgame.
And did Venables' wild-eyed crew use intense, physical play to capitalize on the rare chance to embarrass their bitter rival.
"It was a perfect storm," Venables said.
The Sooners (5-0, 2-0) turned UT's offense into a turnover machine. When they weren't scoring touchdowns themselves, they were giving OU quarterback Landry Jones the field position he needed to torch the Longhorns' inexperienced secondary.
Stoops, who has been Venables' boss for 13 years and a close friend even longer, didn't try to match his D-Coordinator's attempt to dispel the revenge factor being a huge motivational factor.
"I know this means a lot to Brent," Stoops said. "Brent's a pretty smart guy. And it's pretty fair to say our (coaches) know what they are doing. We've been doing OK over the years."
OU's staff and players must be better than OK for Stoops' to win his second BCS title and school's eighth national championship.
Even though OU's first four wins included an impressive performance at Florida State, it lost the No. 1 preseason spot in the Associated Press poll. While the Sooners remain No. 1 in the coaches' poll, the AP media poll dropped them to No. 2 two weeks ago and No. 3 last week.
Defense is the reason No. 1 LSU (6-0) and No. 2 Alabama (6-0) moved ahead of the Sooners. Pundits have said the Nov. 5 showdown between the Tigers and Tide will be the real BCS title game, because no other school has the defensive speed and talent to compete with either of the two SEC powers.
Alabama ranked No. 3 in total defense last week, while LSU was No. 9. OU, meanwhile, was No. 40, allowing 157 more total yards a game than the Tide.
Just don't count Stoops and Venables among those who are ready to concede the SEC its sixth consecutive BCS championship.
"We can be a national champion defense if we play the way we did today," Stoops said. "I don't see us being a whole lot different than (Alabama and LSU).
If Stoops finds a way for Venables to take every game personal, the Sooners just might turn into the type of well-rounded team required to have a BCS championship season.
DALLAS - Brent Venables did his best to deny it, but his ear-to-ear grin gave him way.
Saturday's latest edition of the Red River Shootout was the most personal one for Venables in the 13 years he's participated in the storied Oklahoma-Texas football rivalry.
And because he took it personal, OU's defensive coordinator proved to a lot of skeptics that this Sooners' team deserves to be taken seriously as a BCS national championship contender.
No one has questioned the title credentials of OU's high-octane offense. But defenses still win championships, and many questioned after the Sooners' first four games if Venables' bunch has the right stuff to compete for the 2011 BCS title.
Here's how Venables answered the doubters - No. 3 Oklahoma 55, No. 11 Texas 17.
Other than the final score, the Sooner Nation should have left the Cotton Bowl ecstatic that Venables' head-to-head rematch with Longhorns' co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin turned out to be a total mismatch.
It was Venables' defense that played an unwanted role in helping Harsin land the coveted job at Texas after last season. He made a name for himself as Boise State's O-coordinator in 2006, when the Broncos shocked heavily favored OU in the Fiesta Bowl.
The 43-42 overtime win earned Boise State a permanent spot on college football's national landscape. It was an instant classic because every trick play Harsin called late worked to perfection.
Venables and head coach Bob Stoops were both ridiculed by Sooner fans and the media for letting OU get burned with ancient plays like the Statue of Liberty and hook and lateral.
Harsin's daring play calling made him one of the hottest assistants in the country. UT coach Mack Brown finally lured him away from the Broncos when Brown shook up his staff after last season's disastrous 5-7 finish.
The Venables-Harsin sequel was one of the most intriguing stories in yesterday's showdown of the two undefeated teams, which carried both Big 12 and national championship implications.
After Harsin's offense embarrassed the Sooners' defense in that bowl game, Venables returned the favor in spades Saturday with a magnificent game plan that make Texas' offense look inept.
The OU defense set six school records, including scoring three touchdowns via two interceptions and a fumble recovery. UT (4-1, 1-1) got one TD on a kickoff return and in the final three minutes of a game that was decided by halftime.
"It's never, ever about that," said Venables, trying to downplay his grudge match with Harsin. "Players play the game, and our players played really well."
If it wasn't personal, why did Venables dodge the media all week? Harsin, meanwhile, talked to any media member who would listen about his role in Boise State's historic win over the Sooners.
"No, really, I was just too busy, man," Venables said to claims he had a bunker mentality. "With meetings and practice, it was a crazy week."
But Venables did finally and unintentionally acknowledge his showdown with Harsin was indeed on his mind when he added: "I didn't want that (story) to become a focal point.
"Listen, I know what really happened in that (Fiesta Bowl) in Arizona. So we'll talk about it one day."
Fair enough, coach. Because the major discussion this Sunday should be if that was just a one-hit wonder by OU's defense, or the start of something big?
After all, even though Texas was 4-0, Harsin still hadn't decided who to start at quarterback. After returning starter Garrett Gilbert struggled and was lost for the season with a shoulder injury, Harsin opted for the dicey situation of alternating freshman David Ash and sophomore Case McCoy at the game's most important position.
The skeptics would say UT's unstable QB situation was a guarantee that OU's defense would manhandle UT's offense. But given an opportunity is one thing, taking advantage of it is a whole different ballgame.
And did Venables' wild-eyed crew use intense, physical play to capitalize on the rare chance to embarrass their bitter rival.
"It was a perfect storm," Venables said.
The Sooners (5-0, 2-0) turned UT's offense into a turnover machine. When they weren't scoring touchdowns themselves, they were giving OU quarterback Landry Jones the field position he needed to torch the Longhorns' inexperienced secondary.
Stoops, who has been Venables' boss for 13 years and a close friend even longer, didn't try to match his D-Coordinator's attempt to dispel the revenge factor being a huge motivational factor.
"I know this means a lot to Brent," Stoops said. "Brent's a pretty smart guy. And it's pretty fair to say our (coaches) know what they are doing. We've been doing OK over the years."
OU's staff and players must be better than OK for Stoops' to win his second BCS title and school's eighth national championship.
Even though OU's first four wins included an impressive performance at Florida State, it lost the No. 1 preseason spot in the Associated Press poll. While the Sooners remain No. 1 in the coaches' poll, the AP media poll dropped them to No. 2 two weeks ago and No. 3 last week.
Defense is the reason No. 1 LSU (6-0) and No. 2 Alabama (6-0) moved ahead of the Sooners. Pundits have said the Nov. 5 showdown between the Tigers and Tide will be the real BCS title game, because no other school has the defensive speed and talent to compete with either of the two SEC powers.
Alabama ranked No. 3 in total defense last week, while LSU was No. 9. OU, meanwhile, was No. 40, allowing 157 more total yards a game than the Tide.
Just don't count Stoops and Venables among those who are ready to concede the SEC its sixth consecutive BCS championship.
"We can be a national champion defense if we play the way we did today," Stoops said. "I don't see us being a whole lot different than (Alabama and LSU).
If Stoops finds a way for Venables to take every game personal, the Sooners just might turn into the type of well-rounded team required to have a BCS championship season.